There’s a New Way to Donate Money to Charities, You Just Have to Sweat

Running for charity doesn’t have to be a corporate sponsored event. Now, you can use your mobile running app to turn your morning miles into cash donations to a charity of your choosing. Next time you think about skipping a workout, think about the money you can raise for those who need it most by using one of these apps that track your next run or weight loss goal while raising money for charities.

With Charity Miles, you simply download the app, track your miles, and select the charity in which you would like that money earned to go.

Cost: Free

Mobile: iPhone, Android

Charity Miles enables you to earn money for charity while biking, walking, or running. The app will track your distance and you will earn money to help the charity of your choice. Bikers earn up to 10 cents per mile, and runners and walkers earn up to 25 cents per mile, all of which is donated to your selected charity by corporate sponsors. Some of the charity options include the Wounded Warrior Project, Stand Up 2 Cancer, the ASPCA, and many more. Charity Miles thrives on not only raising funds but also making a statement, raising awareness and showing your commitment to a cause. Download this app, lace up your running shoes, and put some more meaning behind those miles!

If you are the type of person who needs to be held accountable to make a change, this app will work best for you. stikK helps you reach your goals, whether it be to lose weight, maintain weight, exercise more or set a race date by using a ‘Commitment Contract’. A Commitment Contract is a binding agreement with yourself to help ensure you reach your intended goal. With stikK, you set a goal, make a plan to reach it and then put some money down. Additionally, you have to pick a ‘referee’, someone you know and trust to monitor your progress reports and confirm them with stikK. If you do not reach your goals the money you put down will be donated to a charity (or Anti-charity) of your choice. Currently, the app reports that there is over $22 million on the line from users, over 280,000 commitments created, over 730,000 workouts completed, and over 12 million cigarettes that have not been smoked.

This is Atlas, a Pitbull who was rescued by the ASPCA and hospitalized after months of abuse. Download this app and donate to the ASPCA simply by taking your own dog for a walk.

Mobile: iPhone, Android

If you own a dog this app is for you! With Walk for a Dog, you have the opportunity to raise money for animal shelters every time you walk your dog. Funds for shelters are provided through sponsors, advertising and investors. Before you and your pup head out for a walk, you select the shelter or rescue in which you would like to donate to. Once you are done, the money will be credited to the shelter or rescue of your choosing.

When using EveryMove you do not actually have to download a fitness app. EveryMove integrates with a large list of fitness trackers (Fitbit, jawbone, etc.) and acknowledges the movement and miles tracked with that device. You sign up, link whatever movement tracking app you use and start tracking data in one place. You can connect with friends (no matter which tracking device they use) and earn points to redeem for rewards as well as donate to charities.

Have a race coming up? This app is useful if that particular event is not already using a fundraising app OR if it is not raising funds for charity. With this app, you can set a fundraising goal for the event you are participating in, and choose the charity (about 1 Million non-profit charities to choose from) you would like to donate to. Donors have the option of ‘betting’ over or under on the goal you set, or they can make a flat donation. Running for a charity definitely puts more meaning behind those miles and you will have a sense of commitment to your donors and the charity you chose to support—adding more motivation towards your training miles and the race itself!